COP26 preparations: Barry quizzes Ministers in Select Committee hearings

Barry joined as a guest in the Scottish Affairs and Business Energy and Industrial Strategy Select Committees recently. He quizzed Anne-Marie Trevelyan, COP26 Champion for Adaptation and Resilience, over plans to support developing countries with loss and damage through technological and financial support. Loss and Damage is overwhelmingly concentrated in low-income countries facing the gravest effects of the climate emergency today with irreversible economic, cultural and ecosystem degradation. Barry stressed that the adaptation support agreed at COP26 should also compensate countries who have faced losses already as a result of the climate crisis.

In the second session with the BEIS Committee, Barry asked COP26 leads at the Cabinet Office on progress to make this the ‘most inclusive COP’ ever, including civil society influence over the negotiations.

Barry speaks in Westminster Hall debate on deforestation in the Amazon

Barry joined colleagues from across the House in a recent Westminster Hall debate on the crucial issue of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest. 2020 saw Amazon deforestation increase by 13% and the number of wildfires hit a 13-year high. Barry’s intervention focused on the drivers of this deforestation - namely unsustainable consumption of beef and the financing of beef companies linked to illegal deforestation from UK financial institutions. Barry spoke out against the £500 million financing by UK financial companies to three of the world’s largest beef companies linked to illegal deforestation in the Amazon. Barry spoke in favour of plans in the Environment Bill for a due diligence system but stressed these needed to apply to all companies, including financial institutions. He also highlighted the importance of due diligence obligations for forest-risk commodities extending to all deforestation, not just that which is ‘illegally’ defined. This is because Bolsanaro’s disastrous legislative reforms attempt to legalise much of the deforestation and appropriation of indigenous land in the Amazon.

Barry speaks in debate on steel

Barry spoke (virtually) in the chamber during the oppostion day debate on steel. In his previous role as shadow Secretary of State for International Trade, Barry spent hours in committee trying to prevent exactly the problem which has now arisen.

You can watch his speech in full below.

Barry appears on Iain Dale's Cross Question

Barry was on Iain Dale’s LBC Show partaking in ‘Cross Question’ answering questions from listeners who call in. Barry tackled a variety of topical questions posed to him such as would he prefer Gareth Southgate or Boris Johnson to be Prime Minister, his views on England players taking the knee, the Irish border issue post Brexit and the lack of quarantining measures for the world leaders arriving in Cornwall for the G7.

His highlights from the appearance can be viewed below

Barry speaks in Environment Bill report stage debate

The Environment Bill returned to the House of Commons just before parliamentary recess for the second day of report stage. Barry voiced his support the Labour frontbench amendments on banning burning of vegetation on all peatland areas to protect the UK’s most vital carbon sinks. Barry also called for the House to support amendments on food labelling, so consumers could make informed decisions on the products they purchase based on their climate and ecological footprints. Finally, Barry spoke of his support for New Clause 12 to revoke existing fracking licenses following the loopholes in the Government’s moratorium on fracking in place since the end of 2019.

Barry appears on Politics Live

Barry was back in front of the BBC cameras prior to Prime Minister’s Questions today alongside Conservative MP Laura Trott, The Sun Chief Political Correspondent, Harry Cole and The Guardian’s North of England Editor.

Barry gave his thoughts on the currently failing government traffic light system in which he outlined the legislation hasn’t come in line with the system, the current proposed Australian free trade deal in which he reiterated he wanted to see Britain have trade deals all across the world but they must fall in our favour and the upcoming by-election in Batley and Spennymoor which Barry is confident we can win thanks to the great previous work of Tracy Brabin. Barry also used the opportunity to call for greater party unity and to remember it is the Tories we should be opposing, not different factions within the Party.

You can watch his best bits below

"How are you on no sleep?" Barry presses COP26 President Alok Sharma on environmental diplomacy

Barry was involved with the Foreign Affairs Select Committee today when he grilled Alok Sharma MP and COP26 President on environmental diplomacy.

During a fascinating exchange Barry asked Mr Sharma what offers the U.K government had made to China with regards to ensuring the previous COP was a success. He then wanted to know whether the government had offered the Chinese government an agreed set of principles with regards to biodiversity.

There was also further quizzing following representations made to Barry by South African Members of Parliament with regards to the recent International Development cuts announced by the Foreign, Commonwealth and International Development Secretary, Dominic Raab, to which Barry said went to the heart of their climate challenge and urged the government to improve its delivery of climate finance against these cuts.

Finally, Barry raised the prospect of COP26 and without expecting a definitive answer asked who was the priority when it came to in person versus virtual.

You can watch the captivating segment exchange.

Barry's letter to constituents about recent events in the Middle East

Over the past week, Barry’s office has received an unprecedented number of emails regarding the situation in Jerusalem, Israel, Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories. The sheer volume of correspondence makes it quite evident just how strongly people feel about this ongoing conflict.

Barry has set out his position in the letter below.

Barry submits letter in opposition to planning developments in Barham Park

Barry has submitted a letter objecting to a proposed planning application in Barham Park, Sudbury. The application seeks to demolish the former park keepers’ dwellings and erect a four storey residential building.

You can see his letter below.

Barry calls on the Government to levy a Windfall Tax on the construction and house building sector

Barry has also written to Lord Greenhalgh, Minister for Building Safety.

Barry reminded Lord Greenhalgh of his own words in a letter he wrote to Barry in January 2021- “With regard to the question of who pays for remediation, we have been clear that it is unacceptable for leaseholders to have to worry about costs of fixing historic safety defects in their buildings that they did not cause…”

Barry called on the Minister to honour this commitment.

Barry also states that whilst he welcomes the policy intention behind the draft Building Safety Bill, he remains concerned by the lack of detail on how a new regulatory system will operate and how requirements will be enforced.

Barry finally calls for the Government to step in and levy a Windfall Tax on the sector in order to pay for the necessary work, and to spare leaseholders footing the bill.

You can read Barry’s letter to Lord Greenhalgh below.